Posts by Don Christie
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This is an interesting video. I suspect all campaigns try to be controlling of the media but still, a sympathetic journalist from a sympathetic newspaper not being given the red carpet is a bit bizarre.
Regards Obama's speech delivery. It is great and I suspect influenced as much by his African roots as by MLK type preachers (who themselves are influenced by African roots).
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Welcome back Damian. Wellington needed its resident scapegoat to survive Asian war zones and the summer holidays :-)
It is good to hear people who were born here appreciate their country. But I also understand that folks have to leave to discover what is good about a place.
Over Christmas I met a number of 30 somethings who had just returned or were on their way back from longish stints overseas. "How can you not love NZ" was the justification for returning.
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you're hoping there is some long term benefit, that some decent person somewhere down the line is going to buy a copy
Yep, that's it in a nutshell.
I would be willing to lay money that a band with no DRM that gets its music listened to by lotsa folks will earn way more than one with the strong DRM solution, so only folks who pay get to hear the music.
This model is proven in the software world, what are you afraid of? It's not like you have to be a leader or anything.
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attacks???
thats a bit of a misleading term.
no ones forcing you to watch movies or listen to music,But if I do want to listen they are trying to force me to listen in a manner (and time) of their choosing. In doing so they also treat me as a criminal. Just look at the ridiculous restrictions on e-books vs a printed book as an example.
If I don't choose to listen they still have a side impact on my life. Just check out Peter Gutman's shortest suicide note analysis. I certainly call that approach an "attack" on consumer rights.
If you are, like me, a Linux user then DRM legislation and technologies impose all sorts of restrictions on what I can and cannot do with my hardware CDs and DVDs.
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That whole evil major label schtick as a means to justify theft is a little tired and people should know better than to perpetuate it. Its just a diversion from the real issue. one of ownership and the right to control that which they own, be they small time artists or major label wankers.
Is the answer then is to screw the legitimate consumers and further more to remove other choices they might make in terms of software they use, computers they buy and privacy that they have a right to? And all this to protect a lossy, poor fidelity replication of someone's music.
That I know of,... I have actually been at peoples houses and found dubbed copies of local discs, there isn't the don't copy local loyalty we thought there was.
Gasp, and did anyone dare pick up a guitar in your presence and perform someone else's "intellectual property"?
Would you rather 2 people legally listened to your creation or 200 with the possibility that out of those 200 10 might not be free-loaders? Radiohead understand the economics of this hence an entire album and video on Youtube. Lily Allen launched a pretty successful career in a similar way.
I don't think the Internet has changed the way people do or do not copy music, think back to your old cassette collections if you doubt me. What it has done is place enormous power in the hands of some pretty unsavoury corporates to pry into your affairs.
But really, this talk on Copyright Regime vs. Civil Liberties captures just about all the attacks made on consumers by the music, film and software industries in the name of preventing piracy.
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Craig, the last time NP supporters started wittering on about scandals about to be brought up by Labour it was as cover for their own muck racking, conveniently passed through the likes of Wishart and friends.
I cannot speak for Graeme but I suspect when he says "back on point" he is talking about ACC and Affco not Ralston's sad musings which you chose to bring up.
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It's all very nineteenth century, isn't it?
Well, yes indeed. And I am sure the Soviet Politburo was elected along similar lines :-)
However, it does seem to give the folks of many states an extraordinarily close up view of the various candidates over an extended period of time. When you consider the size and population of the USA this has got to be a good thing.
I'm am never quite sure whether to laugh, cry or marvel at the US systems of democracy.
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Yes, I should be clear "the hidden paybacks" refer to the British situation.
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I would go so far as to say – and I would say this, even to Russell's face – that it's sexier than Macs.
Well look at that. Woke up this morning and suddenly I'm cool.
Now I need a new mission for 2008.
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Regarding I/S's strong words about cash for honours and the fisaco that has been taking place in the UK...
Whilst I agree that simply providing funding to a political party in exchange for an honour is unseemly this is not what is at issue in the UK. In fact, that aspect of party funding was investigated and a decision taken not to prosecute.
What is at stake in the UK is the way "loans" to parties have been used to circumvent political financing rules. The fact is, money has been changing hands in secret and, probably, in breach of the law. This has been an opaque process and runs totally counter to an open democracy.
Owen Glenn's contributions to Labour are the exact opposite of that approach, something even The Herald seems to recognise. If the only benefit he gained was a gong, well, who cares...really.
It is the secrecy of donantions, the hidden paybacks and then the subsequent lying about that funding that is "smells" and "reeks".